The latest in cancer immunotherapy

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapyResearchers have found immune system cells deep inside some tumors and have named these cells tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These cells can be removed from tumor samples taken from patients and made to multiply in the lab by treating them with IL-2. When injected back into the patient, these cells can be active cancer fighters.

Treatments using TILs are being tested in clinical trials in people with melanoma, kidney cancer, ovarian, and other cancers. Early studies of this approach have been promising, but its use may be limited because clinicians may not be able to get TILs from all patients.

Dendritic cell-based cryo-immunotherapyThe cryo treatment damage the tunor which liberates the antigen and follows with an injection of millions of the patient's own dendritic cells into the gland which may allow dendritic cells to capture the released tumor antigens and present the antigen alongwith MHC-I to activate cytotoxic T cells which in turn attack tumor cells.

Hopes for the futureSince, the treatment of cancer is still an unmet clinical need of humanity, it is a big challenge to have control over it. The scientists are very hopeful about the future of cancer therapies using various technology platforms that remain a very dynamic area of research. There are many clinical trials under way today that could hopefully lead to better treatments for many types of cancer.